Energen Pilipinas U-16 bucks shaky start, rips Laos in Seaba

BANTING CITY, MALAYSIA—The Energen Pilipinas Under-16 Youth Team overcame a lazy first-half effort before blasting Laos, 101-57, to move within a win of a championship sweep in the 1st Southeast Asian Basketball Association (Seaba) U16 for Men Thursday at the Kuala Langat Gym here.

Arvin Tolentino pumped in 30 points and grabbed 18 rebounds to power the young nationals, who shook off a gritty Laos side that cut their early double-digit lead to five points twice in the first half.

“If the score was about skills, we have the advantage,” said national youth coach Olsen Racela.

“But if you talk about hard work in the first half, tambak tayo (we were crushed). They (Laotians) outworked us in the first half before we picked up in the second half.”

The Philippines, already assured of a slot in the Fiba Asia U16 tournament, will shoot for a tournament sweep against Singapore at 7 p.m. Friday.

Point guard Henry Asilum delivered 14 points on top of three rebounds, three steals and a couple of assists to help the Philippine squad regain its dominating form in the closing quarters.

Daryl Pascual also had 14 markers and five boards as the nationals stretched the lead, 83-51, on their way to a third straight triumph.

Laos, which dropped its games by an average losing margin of 38.3 points, remained winless in three outings.

The Philippines is the first Southeast Asian nation to represent the region in the Fiba Asia U16 tournament slated on Oct. 18 to 28 in Nha Trang City, Vietnam.

Indonesia (2-1), Malaysia (1-1) and Singapore (1-2) are disputing the two remaining Fiba Asia U16 slots in the five-nation qualifier

Racela had his second unit play as his starting five as the Philippines got off to a 14-0 start versus the region’s perennial basketball whipping boys.

But Laos rallied behind the the duo of Thammanoun Sengsouliya and Visit Bouphaheuanghak to trim the gap to five twice, 22-17, in the opening quarter and later again in the second period, 28-23.

“The boys were not mentally prepared and focused in the first half,” noted Racela.

But with the usual designated starters on the floor, the young nationals regained their bearings after the break, zooming to a 21-point advantage, 67-46, by the end of the third quarter.

The scores:
PHILIPPINES 101—Tolentino 30, Asilum 14, Pascual 14, Brill 9, Diputado 8, Tongco 7, Cani 6, Lao 6, Javelosa 5, Vito 2.
LAOS 57—Sengsouliya 17, Bouphaheuanghak 16, Thavonphaneuk 11, Inthavixay 4, Phommasone 4, Bounkhoum 3, Labouaphieng 2, Louangphommason 0, Thammavong 0, Sengthong 0.
Quarters: 24-17, 48-32, 67-46, 101-57